Marian Elizabeth Roper

Marian Elizabeth Roper, née Brookshire, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2026, at the age of 96. She was beloved by her family and friends as a devoted, loyal, and faithful wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

Born in Lufkin, Texas on November 8, 1929, to Elsie and Thomas Brookshire, Marian was raised during the Great Depression and WWII and graduated from Lufkin High School. After high school, she met Victor W. Roper, and they married on August 5, 1949. Vic taught algebra and was the band director at Diboll High School as they started their life together. Their first daughter was born in 1952 followed by another daughter in 1955. In spring 1956, Vic and Marian moved with their 2 young girls to Houston, Texas, where she resided until her death.

Marian was a stay-at-home mom in those early years in Houston, living in the newly built Sharpstown subdivision. She was a true homemaker of the 1950s and ‘60s. She loved to cook and bake, sew clothes for herself and her girls, and tried her hand at knitting, crocheting and needlepoint. She was devoted to her family and began hosting all the family gatherings for holidays such as Christmas and family birthdays as early as the late 1950s and continued that tradition until she moved from her house in 2019.

When her daughters were in junior and senior high school, Marian began working outside the home and in 1971 she became a School Records Clerk, first at T.H. Roger’s Junior High School and then at Robert E. Lee High School. Vic passed away in 1989, but Marian continued to work until her retirement from H.I.S.D. in 1994, after 23 years.

Following her retirement, Marian spent many years traveling around the world with various tour groups, friends, and family members. She also cherished the time she spent helping to care for her grandchildren while they were growing up. Marian was also an active member of her local AARP chapter. Many of her trips by tour bus throughout the US were made with her AARP group and she spent several years helping plan day trips in the Houston area for the chapter.

Marian and Vic were early members of Gethsemane United Methodist Church, a new church starting in Sharpstown. They joined the church in 1956 while the church building was still under construction. Marian was very active in the early years, serving as president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, helping with Vacation Bible School, teaching children’s Sunday school classes, and subbing in the church office. In later years she served on the Board of Stewards, participated in Wednesday night fellowship, held leadership roles in the Sunday school classes and helped set up Communion. She also enjoyed helping with Silver Circle, a monthly gathering for seniors for fellowship of fun, games and lunch. Marian was honored with the St Luke’s Distinguished Life Award for her years of dedication and service to Gethsemane Methodist Church.

Marian was guided by her strong Christian faith throughout her life as evidenced by her thoughtful and kind-hearted actions and generosity toward others. She loved her family deeply and was loved by them in return, doting on her 3 grandchildren and was thrilled to have 4 great-grandchildren.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents Elsie and Thomas Brookshire; her husband Victor Roper; her brother Thomas Junior Brookshire; and her sister Dorothy Louise Carr, née Brookshire.

She is survived by her daughter Dorothy Eileen Harris and husband Ken; daughter Karen Kroeger and husband Glenn; grandson Joshua Drake and his wife Kristen; grandson Nicholas Drake and his wife Steony and their 4 children; and granddaughter Jennifer Kroeger.

The family is very appreciative of the staff at Clarewood House Senior Community including Assisted Living, and the Extended Care Center, and for the services of Vantage Hospice. We were blessed by the care they provided her. Thank you all for helping Marian and her family through these last few months.

A graveside service will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77078, on May 13, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Clarewood House Senior Community at 7400 Clarewood Drive, Houston, Texas, at a date yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marian’s honor to Christian Community Service Center of Houston, at ccschouston.org, or a charity of your choice.